Automobile-lock



C. R. WELCH. AUTOMOBILE LOCK. APPLICATION FILED MAR- 4, I9l9.-

1,359,21 3. I Patented Nov. 16, 1920.

CLARENCE R. WELSH, 0F DENVER, COLORADO.

AUTOMOBILE-LOCK.

Specification of Letters Iatent. I Patented Nov. 16, 1920.

Application filed March 4, 1919. Serial No. 280,551.

l 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CLARENCE E. WELcH, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile-Locks; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in automobile lock-s, my object being to provide a device of simple and economical construction which may be applied to the casing through which the steering post passes, and so constructed and arranged as to be brought into engagement with the steering post when it is desired to lock the machine against theft.

The device consists of two hingedly connected members arranged to surround the casing of the steering post, each member or jaw having a projection which extends inwardly through the casing and whose inner extremity is adapted to enter a perforation in the steering post when it is desired to lock the latter against rotary movement. The extremities of the two hinged members are reinforced, and in one of them is mounted the rotary barrel of a lock of'ordinary construction, the said barrel having a projection adapted to engage a cavity formedin the adjacent reinforced part of the other member. By properly manipulating the barrel by the use of a key, the barrel projection may be made to engage the adja ent reinforced part in locking or released relation, as 'may be desired. As soon as the two members are unlocked by the proper manipulation of the lo k barrel, a couple of springs are so arranged as to automatically separate the two'members sufliciently to dis-. engage the inner ends of their projections from the perforations in the steering post, thus allowing the latter to operate in the usual way.

Having briefly outlined my improvement, I will proceed to describe the same in detail,

reference being made to the accompanying drawing, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof. In this drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of the body of an automobile, showing the steering post construction with my improved lock applied. Fig. 2 is a cross section taken through the lock the steering post and its casing, the device being shown in the locked position and on a larger scale.

Fig. 3 is'a similar View, showing the device in the unlocked position.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the lock shown 1n side elevation, being a' View looking in the direction of arrows 4, Fig. 2.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the Views.

Let the numeral 5 designate the body of an automobile, 6 the steering post, and 7 the cylindrical casing surrounding the post, the post being manipulated by a wheel 8 in the ordinary manner.

Surrounding the casing 7 of the steering post,and preferably a short distance below the steering wheehis located my improved lock, which I will designate in its entirety by the numeral 9. This lock consists of two members 10 and l2which are curved interiorly to correspond with the curvature of the casing 7, and are connected by a hinge pin 32. Each aw is provided with an interiorly projecting part 13, adapted to pass through a perforation formed in the casing 7. The ini'ier extremity of each of these projections as illustrated in the drawing is reduced in size, as shown at 14, and is arranged. to enter a perforation 15 in the steering post. As shown in the drawing, the two projections 13 are arranged in opposing relation and when the members 10 and 12 are closed, they engage both the casing and the steering post; The extremity of the member 10, remote from the hinge pin is reinforced as shown at 16, and in it is rotatably mounted a lock barrel, 17, of ordinary construction and arranged to cooperate with spring-actuated pins, some of which project into the barrel while others are located in the reinforcement 16. This mezhanism is of ordinary construction.

When a key, 18, is inserted in the keytends on both sides of the perforation 21 and adap ed to c ive the 705 p ec 2Q when the barrel is adjusted to lock the two mem bers to cause their projections to; engage the steering post in locking relation.

As shown n the drawing, the reinforce: ment 1:6 is presided with a pin 24, which is arranged to pass through. an opening formed in a projection 26; formed on the reinforcement 2 2 of the member 1. 2. This pin 24: is presided with a head orenlargement 27, which is too large to pass through the perforation '25, and consequently will prevent the two, members of the look from opening far enough to become released. from the casing of the steering post. Each of the members ,1;0,and l2-is provided with a recess 28, in which is seated; a spiral spring 29, one extremity ofwhieh bears. against, the

steering post casing. When the device is in,

the lockedposition, the springs.- 28 are under tension, and as SQQH'QS the two members are unlocked by the proper; manipulation of the lock barrel, thetension of the springs serves to automatically separate the members suffi-ciently to disengage their: project-ions from the steering post, thus unlocking the latter and allowing it to turn freely or in the usual manner.

From thev foregoing description, the use and operation of my improved automobile lock will be read-i-ly'understoodi' f order to apply the-lock, it will: only be necessary to form. openings in two opposite sides of the steering post casing-and corre sponding perforations in the steering post. The openings in the steering post casing willbe. somewhat larger than the projectionsv 13 which pass therethroughin order to com pensate for the movement of the members a from the axis of the hinge pin as a center when the lock is thrown to the open position as illustrated'inFig. 3.

Itwill be understood that as-the projections.:13 are always in engagement with the openings in the casing of the steering post, the device is securely connected with the said casing, against. removal, the pin 24 serving. to, prevent the members from separating far enough to become disengaged from the said casing.

V I claim:

1. An, automobile lock, comprising in combination with the steering post and casing, two movably connected members applied to the steering post casing, the said device having a projection adapted to enter openings formed in the casing and post, means for releasably securing the two members in'locking relation with the steering po tand means: for limiting the separation of said member when released, comprislng an apertured part on one member and a headed pin on the other member pro ectlng throumh the aperture. V

2. En automobile lock, comprising in combination with the steering post and its casing, two movably connected members applied to the steering post casing, the sari device having a projection adapted to enter openings formed in the casing and post,v

means for releasably securing the two members in locking relation with the post, and means for automatically actuating a part of the device to clisengagethe projection from the steering post comprising a spring seated in the device and engaging the said casing.

' In an automobile lock, the combinat on withthe steeringpost and easing having registering perforations, of two members movably connected, one ofthe members having-a projection adapted to engage the openings in. the steering post and casing when the device is in locking position, a lock for connecting the free extremities of the said members, and means for automatically sep arat-ing: the two members when the lock is released comprising a spring positioned be tween and engaging one of-the, members and I saidi ea'sing. I V

4. Anautomobile lock, comprisingv ll'l combination with the steering post and its casing; two hingedly connected members having projections adapted to enter openings formed in said casing and post, releasable means' for securing: the two'niembers in looking relation with the vsteering post, and means for automaticallyseparating the two members when the lock is released, the said last named means including springs seated in the respective members and bearing against. the said casing;

' In testimony whereofal afii my signature.

oLARENoE n. wELon. 

